Cushion instep-raiser for shoes.



J. STROOTMAN. CUSHION INSTEP BAISER FOB. SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 19408.

Patented 11011.21, 1911.

Fig; 1.

im jmomm- Inventor.

SAS

JOHNA STROOTMAN, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CSHION INSTEP-RAISERFOR SHOES.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN STRooTMAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Buf-l falo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Cushion Instep-Raiser for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tor a cushion instep raiser for shoes or the like and the principal object of the invention is tov enablev the fitting of standard measure ready madeY shoes on feet having low insteps by inserting a cushion between the soleof the shoe and t-he instep of the foot. y

The invention also possesses other objects and`4 advantages and relates to certainv details of construction which will -be hereinafter described and claimed reference being linea a, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section on line b b, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross section on line c o, Fig. 2.

In referring to the drawings in detail like numeralsdesignate like parts.

VIt is the universal custom to purchase l shoes ready made, a large variety ofsizes and widths being carried by retail shoeV stores which will accommodate almost all shapes of feet. lYet feet having low insteps cannot beA properly, fitted from the stock carried in the regular standard measures of shoes, as a shoe which tits otherwise will set very loosely around the waist and instep of the foot and permit the foot Vto slide in the shoe thus producing friction vand strain upon parts of the foot and a tender and soreV foot. My improved cushion is designed to remedy this condition by raising theinstep sufliciently to lill the shoe and thereby providing a proper fit.

The'cushion which is made from wool,`

felt or similar material is shaped to a distinctive form and is designed to extend from the heel of a shoe to a point slightly forward of that portion of theshoe sole located beneath the' instep of the wearer.

It will be noted by referring to the drawingsthat the heel portion l, of the cushion vis provided with a top concavity 2 and that Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 21, 119111,

A Application led July 17, 1908. Serial No. 443,945.

the marginal surrounding edge is ilat as shown at 3 to provide a supporting outer portlon of appreciable thickness. The purpose of this is to center the heel of the wearer inthe shoe and also to provide a soft yielding marginal support beneathpthe heel against which the side margin of the bottom surface of the heel presses so that strain y and friction are largely removed from the lower heel bone of the foot thus affording a firm well balanced supportl for the heel within the shoe.

The. edges ofthe cushion substantially correspond in curve to the curve of the shoe sole being wide enough to completely fill out all that portion of the inner space in the shoe in which the cushion is fitted.

The instep portionA of the cushion eX- tends forward from the heel portion l, and terminates' at about the lower bend orcurve of the shoe sole's'e Fig. l: To provide a cushionjcapable of raising the instep perceptibly the instep portionfis preferably left of full thickness. cushion is chamfered olf asshown at 5 so The forward end of the l that it gradually tapers and reduces in size vshocks of walking over the entire surface of the heel but principally on the outer margin of the flesh of the heel thereby removing a large proportion of the strain from the heel bo-nes and centering the heel bones in a concave seat which firmly supports the heel in place and steadies the foot and ankle and prevents wabbling or side motion which might cause the foot to turn over or the shoe to run over to one side. This also in a great 'measure prevents sore feet andl by cushioning and supporting the heel provides a comfortable and easy shoe.

The mostv meritorious feature of this improved cushion is that it raises the instep of a foot so that a shoe which otherwise would be looseand ill lit-ting sets comfortably on the foot and fits well, and that it accomplishes this without producing a tightness around the forward portion and the toes of the foot as the cushion terminates at or in the vicinity of the lower curve of the instep and does not extend forward to' partially fill the forward portion of the shoe.

I claiml l. A comparatively soft cushion adapted to be fitted ovr the hee and instep portion of 4the solo of an article of foot Wear and oonssting of o heel portion provided with a 'top conoavity surrounded by a. substantially flat top marginal odg-e, and an instep portion forward of the heel porbionformed throughout of the full thickness of the cushion..

2. A cushion of felt adapted to be fitted over tho heel and instap portion of an article of foot 'Wear and shapod to' correspond in 'Wd'th and Iconsour to those portions of the soe of the artlole upon 'which' it .fltsrsod cushion consisting of a heel portion provided with a top concaVity-formng a oonczwed seat for the heel bonesond surrounded by a substantially flat marginal edge and an instep portion 'forward of the heel portion formed throughout of the full 'thickness of 'the cushion, said instep portion havingits transvarse forward odge ohambered JOHN STRTMAN,

'Wtnessesz v L. M. SANGSTER, GEORGE A. NEUBAUER. 

